By The Canadian Press Oct 30, 2025
\nThe head of Canada\u2019s military formally apologized Thursday to the Canadian Armed Forces for the service\u2019s history of racist discrimination and vowed to improve the situation for racialized CAF members.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jennie Carignan teared up as she delivered a rare, emotional speech to the rank and file in Ottawa Thursday afternoon. In it, she apologized to every armed forces member who has experienced racial discrimination.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe all know that an apology that is not accompanied by a tangible effort to address our failures, to remedy wrongs \u2026 would be hollow and without real meaning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI renew our commitment to ensure we remain vigilant in precluding systemic barriers that could block an individual\u2019s participation in military service.\u201d<\/p>\n
Carignan called the apology a milestone on a difficult and much longer journey toward ridding the military of discrimination, racism and harassment.<\/p>\n
She said the military will \u201cnot tolerate backlash against this work\u201d and that \u201cracism has no place\u201d in the Canadian Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is under the shadow of ignorance regarding systemic racism that individual racist activity and attitudes flourish,\u201d Carignan said. \u201cWe will not accept excuses that undermine real change.\u201d<\/p>\n
A final settlement agreement on a class-action lawsuit about racism in the military directed the Canadian Armed Forces to acknowledge its history of systemic discrimination.<\/p>\n
The class action resulted in a settlement for members who experienced racial discrimination or harassment during their service from 1985 up to January of this year. The settlement is worth up to $150 million, with individual payments ranging from $5,000 to $35,000.<\/p>\n
The Canadian military also has been sued by its own members over sexual misconduct and discrimination against LGBTQ+ people.<\/p>\n
Planning for the historic apology took more than a year. Documents show National Defence was preoccupied with not re-traumatizing victims.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe (Canadian Armed Forces) is taking a trauma-informed approach to this event. This apology is an important, necessary, and solemn moment and could evoke strong emotional responses and\/or cause trauma to resurface for in-person participants,\u201d a Department of National Defence media advisory for the event stated. \u201cAs such, media will not be permitted in the room where the apology ceremony is taking place.\u201d<\/p>\n
The apology was originally set for March but officials pushed the timeline back so it did not conflict with other events and did not appear rushed or insensitive to stakeholders.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s according to an internal departmental memo prepared for Carignan and Deputy Minister of Defence Stefanie Beck and released through Access-to-Information law.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the evolving public environment, delays in the court decision, and the prorogation of Parliament, March 2025 has become a challenging timeline,\u201d the internal note said, warning of a \u201cvolatile public communications environment.\u201d<\/p>\n